eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Benign Neoplasms

Nevi of Ota and Ito: Treatment & Medication

Author: Harvey Lui, MD, FRCPC, Professor and Head, Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia; Medical Director, The Skin Centre, Lions Laser Skin Centre and Psoriasis and Phototherapy Clinic, Vancouver General Hospital
Coauthor(s): Youwen Zhou, MD, PhD, FRCP(C), Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, University of British Columbia; Director, Hyperhidrosis Specialty Clinic, Co-Director, Psoriasis and Phototherapy Centre, Consulting Physician, Department of Dermatology, Vancouver General Hospital, Co-Director, Vitiligo and Pigmentation Clinic, Oncologist Consultant, Skin Tumor Program, BC Cancer Agency
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jul 14, 2008

Treatment

Medical Care

Cosmetic camouflage makeup can minimize the disfiguring facial pigmentation resulting from nevus of Ota. Otherwise, topical therapy is of no value in the medical treatment of nevi of Ota and Ito.

Surgical Care

  • Laser surgery6
    • Pulsed Q-switched laser surgery is unquestionably the current treatment of choice for nevi of Ota and Ito, and it works via selective photothermal and photomechanical destruction of dermal melanocytes and melanophages.
    • High success rates and minimal adverse effects have been reported with the Q-switched ruby,7 Q-switched alexandrite,8,9 and Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers.8
    • After 4-8 treatments, skin pigmentation is reduced dramatically or removed in 90-100% of cases, with a less than 1% risk of scarring.
  • Other surgical methods (currently have been superseded by laser surgery)
    • Cryotherapy10
    • Microsurgery
    • Dermabrasion (alone or combined with other modalities, such as carbon dioxide snow, autologous epithelial grafting)
    • Sequential dry ice epidermal peeling
  • The Medscape Dermatologic Surgery Resource Center may be helpful.

Consultations

Ophthalmologist - For nevus of Ota, which may be associated with a higher incidence of ocular disease

More on Nevi of Ota and Ito

Overview: Nevi of Ota and Ito
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Nevi of Ota and Ito
Treatment & Medication: Nevi of Ota and Ito
Follow-up: Nevi of Ota and Ito
References

References

  1. Ito M. Studies on melanin XXII. Nevus fuscocaeruleus acromio-deltoideus. Tohoko J Exper Med. 1954;60:10.

  2. Patel BC, Egan CA, Lucius RW, Gerwels JW, Mamalis N, Anderson RL. Cutaneous malignant melanoma and oculodermal melanocytosis (nevus of Ota): report of a case and review of the literature. J Am Acad Dermatol. May 1998;38(5 Pt 2):862-5. [Medline].

  3. van Krieken JH, Boom BW, Scheffer E. Malignant transformation in a naevus of Ito. A case report. Histopathology. Jan 1988;12(1):100-2. [Medline].

  4. Teekhasaenee C, Ritch R, Rutnin U, Leelawongs N. Glaucoma in oculodermal melanocytosis. Ophthalmology. May 1990;97(5):562-70. [Medline].

  5. Hirayama T, Suzuki T. A new classification of Ota's nevus based on histopathological features. Dermatologica. 1991;183(3):169-72. [Medline].

  6. Anderson RR. Lasers in dermatology--a critical update. J Dermatol. Nov 2000;27(11):700-5. [Medline].

  7. Watanabe S, Takahashi H. Treatment of nevus of Ota with the Q-switched ruby laser. N Engl J Med. Dec 29 1994;331(26):1745-50. [Medline].

  8. Chan HH, Leung RS, Ying SY, Lai CF, Kono T, Chua JK, et al. A retrospective analysis of complications in the treatment of nevus of Ota with the Q-switched alexandrite and Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers. Dermatol Surg. Nov 2000;26(11):1000-6. [Medline].

  9. Wang HW, Liu YH, Zhang GK, Jin HZ, Zuo YG, Jiang GT, et al. Analysis of 602 Chinese cases of nevus of Ota and the treatment results treated by Q-switched alexandrite laser. Dermatol Surg. Apr 2007;33(4):455-60. [Medline].

  10. Hosaka Y, Onizuka T, Ichinose M, Yoshimoto S, Okubo F, Hori S, et al. Treatment of nevus Ota by liquid nitrogen cryotherapy. Plast Reconstr Surg. Apr 1995;95(4):703-11. [Medline].

  11. Hidano A, Kajima H, Ikeda S, Mizutani H, Miyasato H, Niimura M. Natural history of nevus of Ota. Arch Dermatol. Feb 1967;95(2):187-95. [Medline].

Further Reading

Keywords

hamartoma, nevus of Ota, nevus of Ito, Hori nevus, Hori's nevus, nevus fuscoceruleus zygomaticus, plaque-type variant of blue nevus, nevus fuscoceruleus acromiodeltoideus

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Harvey Lui, MD, FRCPC, Professor and Head, Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia; Medical Director, The Skin Centre, Lions Laser Skin Centre and Psoriasis and Phototherapy Clinic, Vancouver General Hospital
Harvey Lui, MD, FRCPC is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Dermatological Association, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, American Society for Photobiology, Canadian Dermatology Association, Canadian Dermatology Foundation, Canadian Medical Association, College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, Dermatology Foundation, European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, National Psoriasis Foundation, North American Hair Research Society, and Photomedicine Society
Disclosure: Astellas Consulting fee Review panel membership; Amgen/Wyeth Consulting fee Speaking and teaching; LEO Pharma Honoraria Speaking and teaching; LEO Pharma Grant/research funds Investigator; Serono Grant/research funds Investigator; Galderma Grant/research funds Other

Coauthor(s)

Youwen Zhou, MD, PhD, FRCP(C), Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, University of British Columbia; Director, Hyperhidrosis Specialty Clinic, Co-Director, Psoriasis and Phototherapy Centre, Consulting Physician, Department of Dermatology, Vancouver General Hospital, Co-Director, Vitiligo and Pigmentation Clinic, Oncologist Consultant, Skin Tumor Program, BC Cancer Agency
Youwen Zhou, MD, PhD, FRCP(C) is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Sungnack Lee, MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs, Professor, Department of Dermatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Korea
Sungnack Lee, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Dermatological Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Michael J Wells, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Christen M Mowad, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Christen M Mowad, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE, Medical Director, Clinical Studies Unit, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Associate Scholar, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania
Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE is a member of the following medical societies: Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: AMGEN Consulting fee Consulting; AMGEN Grant/research funds None; Genentech Consulting fee Consulting; Centocor Consulting fee Consulting; Centocor Grant/research funds None; Covance Consulting fee Consulting; Shire  Consulting

Chief Editor

William D James, MD, Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Vice-Chair, Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Health System
William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: elsevier Royalty Other; american college of physicians Honoraria Other

 
 
HONcode

We subscribe to the
HONcode principles of the
Health On the Net Foundation

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright© 1994- by Medscape.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.